Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 13, Number 7, 1 July 1996 — Balloting begins for Native Hawaiian Vote [ARTICLE]

Balloting begins for Native Hawaiian Vote

by Patrick Johnston For some, the sovereignty movement began 20 years ago when Hawaiians began fighting for their rights on Kaho'olawe, in Kalama Valley and on other parts of the island ehain. Others

date the beginning back to the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom itself. Some even say it started when non-Hawaiians

first arrived in the islands and introduced land ownership - undermining the traditional eommunal Hawaiian societies - and foreign diseases, whieh decimated the native population leaving it vulnerable for eonquest. The actual start of the movement is not important; the Hawaiian vote taking plaee this summer is. For the past several months Hawaiians have been receiving address confirmation cards and registration forms for the Native Hawaiian Vote. Starting the first week of July, Hawaiians will begin receiving ballots. On the ballots Hawaiians are asked: "Shall the Hawaiian people elect delegates to propose a Native Hawaiian government." This is not a vote for or against an independent Hawaiian nation. It is not a vote for or against partial autonomy. It is a vote to begin a formal

process to create some form of sovereign entity. "This straightforward question asks if Hawaiians want to elect Hawaiian representatives to gather at a convention to discuss all the sovereignty options," explains Hawaiian Sovereignty Elections Council (HSEC) executive director Tara Lulani McKenzie. "This is not a difficult question. It does not require more time and more education to answer it properly. It is just a

start. " Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation chairman Mahealani Kamau'u agrees. She says voting "yes" on the ballot is simply a vote for a better future. "If you as Hawaiians believe a wrong was done. If you believe the eeonomie and social conditions of Hawaiians could improve. If you believe in a better future for Hawaiians then you should vote in support of this question."

"The ballot is an open, fair and democratic way of letting the Hawaiian people decide what happens next," adds Councilmember and OHA Trustee Kina'u Kamali'i. "If you think we should keep going ahead, vote 'yes.' If you think we should stop and wait, then vote 'no.' But the vote belongs to all Hawaiian people, not select organizations. I think we're ready. I'm voting yes." See Vote, pages 12-13

"If you as Hawaiians believe a wrong was done. If you believe the eeonomie and social eonditions of Hawaiians could improve. If you believe in a better future for Hawaiians then you should vote in support of this question." - Mahealani Kamau'u